Kamal Babu said, “I live in this neighbourhood, on the edge of Hindustan Park, I have seen you many times, wanted to speak to you but didn't have the courage. I got a reason today, so I thought I will meet you and talk about it. A small problem has come in my life.

A problem! Byomkesh held out a cigarette case and said, pray tell me, it’s been quite a while that I have solved any problems.

This discussion was happening in Byomkesh’s Keyatala house on a warm Sunday Afternoon.

Kamal babu looks like Narugopal, but his face is bright and intelligent. He smiled and lit a  cigarette, then began his story, “My name is Kamal krishna Das, I am the cashier at the nearby Branch of Central Bank of India. I came here a year and a half ago after being transferred from Purulia.

"When I came to Calcutta, I fell into trouble; I was unable to find to find a good house on rent anywhere. Finally, a kind man rented me a room on the ground floor of his house. I was unable to bring my Family alongside, I

left my wife and daughter in Purulia and started staying here all by myself.

"The landlord's name is Akshay Mondal. The house is two-storied; there are two rooms on the lower floor and two on the first floor. We both have separate entrances. Akshay Mondal lives alone on the first floor and has some occasional visitors. Akshay Mondal is a sweet-spoken man, but I not aware of what he does for a living. Sometimes Akshay Mondal used to come down to my room to have a good chat, but he never invited me to his rooms upstairs. He hardly spoke to any of his neighbour’s. He had a savings account in my branch hence he used to speak with me.

However, after spending three months like this, one day I had a dinner invitation at my Office colleague’s place. I was late to return home that night. Once back home, I saw Akshay Mondal coming down from the second floor and locking the door of the stairs, he had two

suitcases on him. I asked, “Where are you going at this time of the night?”

Akshay Mondal was bewildered to see me. He came to me with two suitcases in both hands, and said in a deep voice, "Kamalbabu, I have to leave immediately due to some urgent work, I don't know when I will return.”

His eyes were bloody red. I asked, “what is the matter, where are you going?” A smile appeared on his face He said, “Well too far, I should leave immediately.”

I stood surprised. He went a few steps and stopped, then came back and said “Kamalbabu, you work in the bank, and you are a gentleman, let me propose you something. “If I do not return within a week, you can use my entire house and you must pay Rs.150 as rent.